MedSnap Launches Verify Services
According to estimations by the National Crime Prevention Council as much as 10 percent of all pharmaceuticals in the global supply chain might be counterfeit and in some developing countries the percentage might go up as high as 70 percent.
To help combat this increasing threat, MedSnap has launched MedSnap Verify Services to provide smartphone-based computer vision solutions for pharmaceutical supply chain verification including at the point of dispensation.
Using an iPhone, a durable Snap Surface and the MedSnap VR application, a user can snap a picture of pills and the application will visually assess pill authenticity with high precision. MedSnap’s technology authenticates a set of pills in seconds based on its visual fingerprint of the product.
As pills are snapped worldwide, MedSnap creates an epidemiological map of each pill’s appearance based on visual attributes and imprint similarities. This data is available for analysis to assist in tracking similar counterfeit techniques and operations.
Nursing Home Project Leaders Meet
Representatives and administrators from the 23 Alabama nursing homes participating in the initiative to reduce avoidable hospitalizations met in an executive leadership symposium at the Alabama Department of Public Health on April 15th.
The initiative is a partnership between AQAF, the Alabama Nursing Home Association, the Alabama Department of Public Health, the Alabama Department of Senior Services, UAB, Samford University, and others. It’s funded by a $15.2 million grant from CMS.
Over the course of the collaborative, each nursing home will:
• Identify possible causes for avoidable hospitalizations and select the proper interventions;
• Deploy leadership approaches to more effectively train nursing home staff;
• Implement evidence-based medication safety practices.
AQAF project staff joined the nursing home representatives to hear from Bill O’Connor, executive director of the Alabama Nursing Home Association; Dr. Don Williamson, state health officer; Dr. Tom Geary, director of the bureau of health provider standards at the Alabama Department of Public Health; Evan Shulman, technical director from the Medicare Medicaid Coordination Office at CMS; Dr. Mickey Trimm, associate professor of healthcare management at UAB; Dr. Clare Hays, the project medical director; and Rita Morris, advocate and caregiver.
Trinity Names Employee of the Year
Trinity Medical Center has named Jackie Pate as 2013 Employee of the Year. Pate was chosen from among 1,600 hospital employees for the honor.
Health care requires a special blend of great people skills, tireless energy and the ability to work well under pressure,” says Keith Granger, Chief Executive Officer. “People who work in health care share the common desire to help others. It’s a pleasure to recognize our employees for their dedication to our patients and to providing outstanding care.”
Employees are nominated for the award by their hospital peers based on their commitment to patient care, their professionalism, and their contributions on the job.
Pate has worked for Trinity since March 2008 beginning as Payroll Clerk and later promoting to Payroll Supervisor. She has over 20 years of payroll experience.
Four Attorneys Join Burr & Forman Healthcare Practice
Burr & Forman LLP has expanded its capabilities to serve the health care industry with the addition of four Birmingham-based attorneys. David W. Proctor and Angela C. Cameron join as partners; Richard J. Brockman as of counsel, and Maggie Lester as associate.
David Proctor’s practice focuses on medical malpractice defense and litigation matters. He graduated from Washington and Lee University (B.A., cum laude, 1981) and the University of Alabama School of Law (J. D., 1984). He is a member of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, Birmingham and American Bar Associations, and the Alabama State Bar. He is also a member of the Mississippi Bar Association.
Angela Cameron earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama (B.A.,cum laude, 1998) and her J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2004).
In addition to her health care litigation practice, Angela assists health care providers with navigating federal and state laws directly impacting the health care industry, including but not limited to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”), the state of Alabama’s certificate of need laws, and Medicare and Medicaid regulations.
Richard Brockman graduated from Huntingdon College (B.A., 1983), the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University (J. D., 1986), and New York University School of Law (LL.M., in Taxation, 1987). From 1984 to 1986, he served as a member of the Editorial Staff of The American Journal of Trial Advocacy.
He s listed in Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA and was recognized a number of times by the Birmingham Business Journal as one of its Best of the Bar.
Maggie Lester’s health care practice also includes matters concerning compliance with federal and state regulatory requirements and state licensure issues.
Maggie’s experience includes involvement in drafting an Amici Curiae brief to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals requesting a rehearing of a case that impacted current Certificate of Need law in Alabama.
St. Vincent’s Board Members Earn Hospital Trustee Certification
Ten board members at St. Vincent’s Health System were recently recognized for their achievement in becoming Certified Hospital Trustees. These included: Robert Barnett, Sr. Mary Elizabeth Cullen, DC, James Davis, Kent Graeve, Willie H. Parker, Nena Sanders, RN, DSN, Daniel Sansone, Zeke Smith, William Starnes, and Joseph Welden, Jr., MD.
The certification program was established by the Alabama Hospital Association, in conjunction with the Alabama Council of Hospital Trustees, to encourage continued leadership development and knowledge of the health care system among hospital board members.
MagMutual Names Lyons as Regional Vice President for Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee
MagMutual Insurance Company has appointment Jesse Lyons as regional vice president for its western region, including Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee. Lyons will lead sales and business development in these states for the policyholder-owned mutual insurer.
Consistent with MagMutual’s key operating precepts and strategic plan, the company has implemented a more refined focus on regional (state) leadership. Key features of this new regional focus include:
- improved ability to deliver service at the local level;
- closer alignment of Sales, Claims, Underwriting and Risk Management/Patient Safety departments;
- greater presence with respect to each state’s medical community, legislative environment, and regulatory communities.
Lyons most recently was president of MagMutual subsidiary Select Professional Underwriters, where his responsibilities included broad oversight of the company’s independent agent relationships. In a continuation of that role, he will now chair a newly created cross functional resource team that will work with all of MagMutual’s regional vice presidents to support the company’s independent agents in growing their book of business.
Prior to joining MagMutual, Lyons held positions with Medicus in Austin, Texas, and Potter Holden in Atlanta. He holds a master of business administration degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic University and a bachelor of science degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana.
“As the leading provider of medical malpractice insurance based in the Southeast, MagMutual serves doctors and hospitals throughout Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee. It is therefore only natural that we would continue to refine our ability to provide superior products and service in those states,” said Neil Morrell, president of MagMutual.
CRMC Foundation Provides Grant
The CRMC Foundation recently provided grant funding to Cullman Regional Medical Center’s Surgical Services Center for the purchase of eight Harmonic-Tilt Patient Chairs.
“These chairs provide improved support for our elderly surgical patients, particularly our cataract patients who must be prepped for surgery in a chair rather than in a bed,” CRMC Surgical Services Division Director Dewight Davis, RN said.
The Harmonic-Tilt Chairs feature fold-away arms to make access easier in the event a wheelchair transfer is needed.
Cullman Fire Departments Establish First Emergency
Responder Certification Program in Alabama
The Cullman County Association of Volunteer Fire Departments (CCAVFD) has implemented the first State-Approved Certification System for Emergency Medical Responders (EMR). The program is designed to help bridge the gap in medical intervention for communities throughout Alabama.
According to EMS Officer of the CCAVFD Jeff Byars, NREMT, many other states have a certification program; however, Alabama did not.
“A few years ago, we asked the State of Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), Office of EMS and Trauma if we could create an EMR certification program in order to create consistent training for volunteers throughout Alabama,” Byars said. “After successful results through the pilot period, the state agreed to make this program an official education and certification program for Medical Responders.”
The certification program is now administered through the ADPH Office of EMS and Trauma. Resources from Cullman Regional Medical Center’s Ambulance Service, Cullman Emergency Medical Service (CEMS), assist with portions of the training, and medical oversight is provided by Josiah Daily, MD, who serves as Medical Director of Cullman Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Room and Chairman of Emergency Medicine.
Currently, there are 50 State Licensed EMRs, with 30 percent of those serving in Cullman County.
“With a high percentage of rural areas throughout Cullman County, EMRs become more important to making sure citizens that require immediate medical treatment get the care they deserve, as quickly as possible,” Daily said.
St. Vincent’s Clergy Wellness Initiative Calls
St. Vincent’s Health System is calling for applicants for the next class of its Clergy Wellness Initiative, which helps local faith leaders meet their health goals through a tailored wellness program.
Since the Clergy Wellness Initiative kicked off in 2012, more than 30 clergy members have participated in the program. Participants work out with a personal trainer, receive membership at the St. Vincent’s Birmingham Bruno Fitness Center, and attend monthly wellness programs on a wide range of topics. The program culminates with a 5K walk/run.
If you’re interested in applying, please contact Chastity McDavid by phone at (205) 930-2430, ext. 22430 or by e-mail at chastity.mcdavid@stvhs.com. To apply, you must be a licensed or ordained clergy member in a senior leadership position of a local ministry. The deadline for applications is May 16, 2014. The program will start in August of 2014 and continue until June 2015.
Trotter Joins Waller
Zachary D. Trotter has joined the Birmingham office of Waller as an associate in the healthcare practice. Trotter assists hospitals, health systems, physicians, skilled nursing facilities and outpatient services on a broad range of regulatory compliance and operational matters. He advises clients on Stark law compliance, federal and state anti-kickback regulations, as well as HIPAA and state patient privacy laws. He also assists with the regulatory aspects of transactional matters.
Prior to joining Waller, Trotter was with Johnston, Barton, Proctor and Rose where he gained experience drafting bills that were enacted into law amending Alabama’s Certificate of Need laws.
He earned his J.D. in 2011 from Vanderbilt University Law School and his B.A., magna cum laude, in 2008 from Auburn University.
Trinity Medical Center Trustees Achieve Certification
Fifteen board members at Trinity Medical Center were recently recognized for their achievement in becoming Certified Hospital Trustees.
The certification program was established by the Alabama Hospital Association to encourage leadership development and knowledge of the health care system among hospital board members.
“Being a hospital trustee in today’s environment is not an easy task,” said Michael Horsley, FACHE, president of the Alabama Hospital Association. “These men and women are called on for countless meetings on issues that make a tremendous difference to their communities, so education on the issues becomes crucial. This program reinforces that.”
According to Horsley, trustees who enroll in the certification program must fulfill a set of requirements on an annual basis that measure participation, basic knowledge, continuing education and other skill sets vital to effective governance. The program is voluntary and is offered to hospitals statewide.
Trinity Medical Center trustees achieving certification include: T.C. Brightbill, MD; Karen Callahan, MD; John Casterline, MD; John T. Eagan, Sr., MD; Shields Frey, MD; Keith Granger; Mary Louise Guerry-Force, MD; George Hairston; Dr. Kip Laxson, Reverend; Samuetta Nesbitt; Scott Pennington, MD; Robbie Robertson; James Spann; Bill Thompson, MD; and, David Wynne, MD.